MILWAUKEE-- Two separate incidents at local high school basketball games last weekend has referees calling foul on their safety.
"It's a scary time to be an official," said sports referee Ken Koester.
Koester has been a Wisconsin high school sports official for more than 30 years, but two incidents involving refs on Saturday, March 7 remind him why fewer people are signing up to do the job.
The first incident involved Giannis Antetokounmpo's younger brother Alex, a senior at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay. Alex is seen on cell phone video charging at several officials after his team lost to Brown Deer High School by one point in triple over time. Alex had to be restrained by several others on the court.
"Obviously, it's March and we understand the stakes, but by the same token, it's a high school basketball game," said Koester.
Dominican High School officials sent a statement to TMJ4 News:
“Dominican High School is aware of an incident following its boys basketball game Saturday night. We are actively investigating the situation. All student affairs are handled internally and confidentially.”
While cell phone video hasn't surfaced of a second incident Saturday night at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Koester was officiating the game when a spectator threw a full water bottle from the balcony, striking another referee on the forehead.
"When we're driving home from a game on a Saturday night thinking we did this for $55, $60-$70 and is it fair to our loved ones? I don't know," said Koester.
Milwaukee Public Schools officials sent a statement to TMJ4 News:
“MPS has been in communication with the WIAA and is cooperating with law enforcement as this investigation is ongoing," Milwaukee Public Schools said in a statement. "The throwing of objects and/or attacks on officials, student athletes and spectators is prohibited. The district encourages our student athletes and families to show good sportsmanship."
Koester works for the National Association of Sports Officials representing more than 26,000 referees across the country at every level. He said refs are trained to de-escalate these situations and to get out of harm's way.
"They did a great job with getting us into the locker room and everyone from MPS administration has been fantastic to deal with," Koester said.
Koester thinks Wisconsin should follow the lead of more than 20 other states that have laws in place protecting refs from harassment and battery on the court.
"It's more the fans and the parents that are getting abusive and threatening," said Rep. Joan Ballweg of Markesan.
Ballweg helped draft legislation in Wisconsin that would make harassment of sports officials a crime and punishable by up to 10 thousand dollars and 9 months in jail.
"They were hoping that doing something like this will at least put that marker out for an individual so they know what the rules are during the season that there actually are consequences for not trying to keep yourself under control," Ballweg said.
Ballweg said the proposal didn't garner enough support from lawmakers during the last legislative session. Ballweg is hopeful it will gain momentum heading into next year.
